The Battle of Tassafaronga was fought on the night of November 30, 1942, between US

Navy and Imperial Japanese Navywarships near Tassafaronga Point on the Pacific island
of Guadalcanal. Five cruisersand four destroyers under the command of Rear Admiral Carleton
H. Wright (pictured)stalked eight Japanese destroyers under Rear Admiral Raizō Tanaka that
were en route to deliver food to their forces on the island. Using radar, the US warships gained
surprise, opened fire, and sank one of the destroyers. Tanaka's ships reacted quickly, launching
Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes that sank one US cruiser and heavily damaged three others.
The rest of Tanaka's force escaped without significant additional damage, abandoning the
intended supply mission. The battle had little strategic impact, and the Japanese were unable to
recapture Guadalcanal from Allied forces.